The Belial Stone (The Belial Series) Read Free

chuckle made Laney smile even wider. She pictured him sitting at his desk, his mop of curly brown hair falling over his deep blue eyes. 
    Her uncle had always hoped the two of them would turn their platonic friendship into a romantic one.  At least, he had hoped it up until she explained that the main stumbling block was their identical taste in men.
    “Sorry, Lanes.  Work’s been insane.”
    “See?  You’re working too hard.  You should have taken that position with my uncle.”  Laney’s uncle, Father Patrick Delaney, was one of the Roman Catholic Church’s premier archaeologists.  He’d gotten custody of Laney after her parents had died in a car crash when she was eight.  As a result, she’d spent almost every summer at one dig site or another since childhood. 
    Since Laney met Drew freshman year of college, he’d spent every summer with them as well.  Even when they went to different doctorate programs, they stayed close.  When Drew finished his doctorate, her uncle had offered him a position with one of the Vatican’s dig sites.  Drew turned him down.  Instead he’d agreed to work with Dr. Arthur Priddle.  Not a good call in Laney’s opinion, but also not her decision. 
    “You know I think the world of your uncle.  But Arthur’s research is much more in line with my own.  And, at the time, I thought it would come with fewer strings.”
    “Not the case, huh?”
    Drew snorted.  “Hardly.  He’s been running me ragged.  I don’t think he understands that we’re colleagues and I’m not his grad student.  And he’s been even more security conscious than usual.  The man has taken paranoia to a whole new extreme.” 
    Laney caught her reflection in the mirror, her dark green eyes reflecting her concern.  This wasn’t like Drew.  He wasn’t a complainer.  He’d spent one summer in Egypt covered in bug bites, in the sweltering heat, with an unknown rash that caused his feet to swell to the point that he’d had to hobble around in sandals two sizes too big.  He’d barely mumbled a complaint. 
    Seeming to sense her worry, he added some bounce into his next words.  “I mean, it’s intense, but good.  Priddle really has a way of looking at things from a new angle and developing an innovative approach.”
    Laney opened her closet, looking for her gym shoes, and grimaced.   “Right.  Innovative and without any social skills or conscience.” 
    At Drew’s silence, she sighed, realizing she wasn't helping.  “Sorry.  Ignore that.  I just don’t like you being so far away.  So tell me, how are you doing?  Really doing?  And no placating.”
    Drew let out another laugh, this one less good-natured and more nervous.  “Okay, maybe things are a little stressful, right now.   But you know Priddle, perfection is his goal.”
    Although his tone was light, Laney heard a heavier emotion under the words.  “Drew, is everything okay?”
    He hesitated before answering.  “I don’t know.  He’s been even crazier than usual lately.  We’ve got this new project we’re working on, and he won't let me talk about it with anyone.  And I mean anyone.”
    Leaning down to tie her sneakers, she tried to think of a way to give her thoughts an optimistic spin.  “Well, he’s not exactly known for his openness.  And besides, his research is so esoteric and off the map, it’s often dismissed before anyone really gives it a chance.  Maybe he’s just trying to make sure word doesn't leak out before he can present his entire argument.”  She paused.  “Are you regretting your choice to go work with him?”
    “No.  I mean, I really think ancient civilizations hold the answers to who we are and where we’re going.  There’s so much out there we can’t explain - who built the sphinx, why the older pyramids are more technologically advanced than the newer ones, the maps of Antarctica that pre-date our history.  And those are only a few.  There are thousands of examples